Goodyear Trying The Right Thing
Goodyear has hired recruitment firm The Right Thing to help it recruit and hire future employees nationwide.
Dog Deflates Police Tyres
News'Dog bites man' might not be a newsworthy story, but how about 'dog bites tyres'?
Bridgestone India Inaugurates ‘Select Super’ Faridabad Showroom
NewsBridgestone has announced the inauguration of its largest showroom in India, the Haryana Care Center in Faridabad, making the site a ‘Super Select’ showroom.
11-Year Olds Blamed For US Tyre Fire
NewsTwo 11-year old girls were arrested on suspicion of starting a fire which destroyed a warehouse storing shredded tyres ready to be recycled. The warehouse, owned by Joliet, Illinois-based tyre recycler Tire Grinder Transporters, was ablaze for five hours before firefighters brought it under control.
McConechy's Reports Dip In Profits
NewsAccording to the Herald Scotland website, Ayr-based tyre retailer McConechy's Tyre Service has posted pre-tax profits of £485,685 for the year to the end of April, down on the figure of £1.2 million for the previous year.
FAA Benefits From Titan Auction Donation
NewsTitan Tire is once again pitching in to help the young members of the Future Farmers of America.
Conti to Close Alabama Plant
Career TracksContinental AG plans to close its powertrain and interior components plant in Huntsville, Alabama, by the end of 2010.
Txt Spk Safety Scholar Wins Bridgestone Contest
NewsBridgestone’s annual US Safety Scholars contest has a 2009 winner, in addition to two runners-up, all of whom will receive $5,000 towards their college studies and a set of Bridgestone or Firestone tyres. The competition highlighted a wealth of creative talent, as entrants took their cue from an eclectic range of inspirations including rap videos, emotional personal stories and important topical issues.
20p Coin a ‘Life Saver in Your Pocket’: TyreSafe
NewsThe latest TyreSafe campaign materials are soon to be released on the not-for-profit organisation’s website in time for October’s Tyre Safety Month. Focusing on tread depth, the new resources will encourage drivers to check and replace any illegal tyres on their vehicle by introducing the theme of a ‘life saver in your pocket', which suggests that motorists can check the safety and legality of their tyres using the edge of a 20 pence coin. Materials are provided free of charge to the trade and include a reception poster, a point of sale leaflet, a website banner and a safety advice movie.
Rubber Prices No Longer a ‘Tailwind’ for Tyre Makers
NewsThe fact that natural rubber prices have rebounded 25 per cent to US$2.1/kg for RSS3 in the last month means raw material prices that had been assisting tyre manufacturers are no longer a “tailwind.” The news is forcing analysts such as Deutsche Bank revise their earnings estimates as they had mostly factored in the possibility that that tyre companies would pass a portion of this raw material price benefit onto their vehicle making customers. However, with the current boost in rubber prices behind them the 33 – 50 per cent of the so-called rubber tailwind they may have pencilled to share with the OEMs is not likely to be erased.
WRAP to Launch Tyre Crumb Quality Protocol
NewsAccording to Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the publication of a new Quality Protocol (QP) and certification scheme will help to drive the market for rubber crumb and shred derived from used tyres. Mervyn Jones, joint project executive and head of manufacturing at WRAP told Tyres & Accessories the Quality Protocol will assure material quality and encourage sector growth. However, the practical basis for this expansion is not clear and there are question marks over how much this will cost businesses and ultimately end users. Transport Research Laboratory will operate the tyres QP certification process.
Mervyn Jones believes this growth will be driven by the introduction of a new voluntary QP and certification scheme planned for November 2009, by the Waste Protocols project – a joint WRAP and Environment Agency initiative. The QP follows on from a publicly available specification document (PAS 107) published in 2007. Developed by WRAP and the British Standards Institute (BSI), PAS 107 helps manufacturers of tyre-derived rubber crumb and shred to ensure their products adhere to specified quality standards.
Bridgestone “Pleased” with Belgian F1 Practice Session
NewsBridgestone director of motorsport tyre development, Hirohide Hamashima declared himself “pleased” following Friday’s practice sessions for the Belgian Grand Prix at the undulating Spa Francorchamps circuit. He stated that the unexpected morning showers were “good for Bridgestone as we could evaluate the performance of our latest specification intermediate tyre relative to the wet tyre. We are pleased to say our initial performance feedback and data has been as anticipated.”
Fiat 500 Abarth Tuned up Again
Product NewsA certain Italophilic member of the Tyres & Accessories staff likes nothing better than to see Fiat’s smallest current creation in full flow, so the Abarth version was undoubtedly a big hit with him.
Conti Completes 100% Acquisition of Matador Rubber
Career TracksContinental has completed its acquisition of Slovakian company, Continental Matador Rubber S.r.o. following the purchase of the 34 per cent stake held by the Cyprus-based minority shareholder, M.I.L. Investments Ltd for $67 million (£41.1 million).
Tyre Mountain to Topple
NewsThe Eastern Daily Press describes it as "infamous", but despite its local notoriety days may be numbered for the tyre mountain on the Tattersett Business Park, near Fakenham. The newspaper reports that work is "underway" towards a planning application for the creation of a £1 million re-cycling facility.
